In my search for a 997S cab, I hit a new wrinkle that changes the picture. One of the many reasons I want to move from my Cayman S to a 911 is the backseat (I have a 5 yr daughter) and it would be nice to take the family out on occasion. Larry has been extremely helpful during my search and I've been close on a couple of cabs (the wife's only demand). Well, my wife and I made the decision that my 16 yr old niece will be moving in with us for her last 2 years of high school. Here's my dilemma and where I want your input. My wife drives an '06 BMW X5. I have an '08 Range Rover Sport and we have the Cayman S. We will have situations where my niece will have to drive and I'm not comfortable letting her out with our current selection (she's a good kid, just an immature driver). So, I'm trying to think of what options I can look at that will put a 997 in the garage, while also getting a cheaper car for her to drive. Other important facts - I live in the snowbelt, primarily work from home & we have 2 dogs.

One possible path (assuming I can drive a C4S all year), is to trade the Cayman for a C4S (coupe) and use it as a DD; trade the Bimmer in for a WRX that I can drive and the niece can drive; and have the wife drive the RRS. It's not going to scratch the itch but I'm also thinking I could drop either SUV and the Cayman for an M3 or RS4 and add an inexpensive 3rd car. Should I just suck it up and keep the SUVs and trade the Cayman in for a cheap 3rd car for the niece? I've also always wanted a LR Defender - maybe I could do a 911 and a Defender and the niece drives the Defender?

Before this decision to take our niece, I finally got the wife to agree on the 911. I'm afraid that if I don't take advantage of it now, I'll be waiting 2 years until my niece goes to college. I'm sure the wife will come back and say "you can't drive a 911 during the winter" but with snows, I think I probably could.

So, what puzzle pieces fit together?

lease niece a honda or buy her a used vehicle, some leases are between 150 and 200/mo. problem solved.

+1 on getting a inexpensive car, she is 16. It is very likely she will hit something, it is just a matter of how bad. Get you C2S Cab and and keep your other toys, they are both very nice.

+1, or get her a used Honda or Toyota, sell it once she's done with high school.

6 more dogs and a sled?

definitely get a 911 now, there is no excuse or wait for not getting a 911.

keep both SUVs for utility and winter use.

agree to lease something cheap for the niece, do you have to pay for it? where is her parents?

Now that is a creative solution! Thanks for making me laugh.

I'd prefer not to have 4 cars (only have a 3 car garage and would prefer not incur the costs associated with 4 vehicles).

For legal reasons I won't go into the parents situation but I don't see getting any financial support from them.

If you loves cars like any of us, then I don't see how you can share a car with a teenager, you should know what I mean.

Get a 911C4 or 911C4S for all season use, but beware that when the snow is too deep, the 911 may not have enough ground clearance to go even if it has 4WD traction.

Your niece can use the X5 in the meantime, don't see why she needs a new car as a beginner.

Good points Tim and believe me, I wasn't thinking that anything she would drive would be new. That's why I am contemplating keeping one of the SUVs, trade the Cayman for a C4S, and getting an old Defender. It's something that I can drive when it's bad and something I wouldn't feel that bad letting the niece drive when necessary.

Used Defenders that I have seen listed come pretty dear - I'd go for a used 4Runner - that's something you could lose and not lose too much sleep over. It would be pretty safe and reliable too.